Latest news with #NationalInstituteofGeophysics
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Yahoo
WATCH Mount Etna erupt: Europe's largest volcano blows as tourists scramble to safety
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Mount Etna erupted on Monday (June 2) with a ginormous cloud of ash and triggered an avalanche of volcanic material that has ripped down the side of Europe's largest active volcano. The massive eruption on the Italian island of Sicily sent visitors scrambling for safety as black smoke rose high above Catania, a metropolitan city with a population of more than 1 million people located near the base of the volcano. An avalanche of hot lava blocks, ash, gas and other volcanic material called a pyroclastic flow began at around 11:20 AM local time. Footage from the eruption makes it look as if the volcano is splitting open from the top down as the ejected material races down the side of the volcano. Scientists observing the volcano said that the latest eruptive activity likely started after a collapse of material in Mount Etna's South-East Crater, where the "explosive activity" has since become a lava fountain, according to an update at 12:00 PM local time from the Etnean Observatory, run by Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology. There were no reports of injuries at the time of publication, though some social media videos show tourists fleeing the volcano on foot. "I spoke to the INGV (Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology), everything is normal and under control," Enrico Tarantino, the mayor of Sicily's Catania municipality, said in a statement, via the Independent. "There is no criticality, it is a phenomenon that repeats itself and, in light of the monitoring of the volcano, was already expected." Related: Watch mesmerizing 1,000-foot-tall lava fountains: Kilauea volcano erupting in ways not seen for 40 years Mount Enta has been erupting since Nov. 27, 2022, according to the Smithsonian's Global Volcanism Program. At over 11,000 feet (3,350 meters) tall, Mount Etna is the tallest volcano in Europe. —The closer a volcano is to erupting, the greener the trees around it look from space —Quadruple volcanoes on secret Soviet military base linked to climate-altering eruption 200 years ago — Earth from space —Mystery of Bolivian 'zombie' volcano finally solved The ash cloud from the latest eruption had risen up to around 21,300 feet (6,500 m), or 4 miles (6.5 kilometers) into the sky, according to an update from the Toulouse Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre in France at 12:00 PM local time. That rise meant the ash cloud was almost twice as high as the volcano itself. The rest of the cloud is mostly composed of sulfur dioxide (SO2). This gas, when released from a volcano, can mix with other gases and particles in the atmosphere to form a haze called volcanic smog (vog). Inhaling enough vog can cause respiratory problems and other health issues such as eye and skin irritation, according to USGS. However, officials in Italy haven't warned of any threats to the local population at the time of publication. The eruption has stopped, according to an update at 4:56 PM local time from the Etnean Observatory.
Irish Times
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Irish Times
Mount Etna eruption: Tourists in Sicily flee clouds of gas and ash
Tourists on the Italian island of Sicily were forced to flee from the slopes of Mount Etna, one of Europe's largest and most active volcanoes, after an eruption sent clouds of gas, rock and ash billowing into the sky. There were no reports of injuries or deaths, though videos circulating on social media showed hikers scrambling to descend the mountain as plumes rose overhead on Monday. More than 20 per cent of the flights arriving at the nearby Catania Airport were delayed, according to FlightAware, a company that tracks flight information. Authorities said that there was no risk to the local population. The National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said in a statement that the explosions were confined to the summit area, which was closed to tourists, and were of 'strong intensity.' The institute has since announced on its Facebook account that the day's volcanic activity has ended. READ MORE [ Australian woman accused of triple mushroom murders breaks down in court Opens in new window ] As a popular tourist destination, Sicily welcomes many millions of travellers annually, with more than 1 million visiting Mount Etna alone. In recent years, authorities have struggled to control imprudent visitors who failed to appreciate the risks of getting a close look at the island's most prominent landmark. Mount Etna, a stratovolcano, or a conical volcano with relatively steep sides, shows almost continuous activity from its main craters and relatively frequent lava flows from craters and fissures along its sides. A previous major eruption had occurred in February. Smoke rises from the crater of the Etna volcano as it erupts, on Mount Etna near Catania on June 2nd Photograph: AFP via Getty Images Hannah and Charlie Camper, a couple from England, were vacationing at Villa Carlino House, which sits about 10 miles east of the volcano's central crater, when volcanic plumes began billowing near the summit. The couple was aware of previous eruptions but thought they would be 'completely fine,' since 'it's active all the time,' Hannah Camper said in a WhatsApp message. Camper said they weren't sure what to do if the activity worsened. They did not receive any emergency messages on their phones. After filming a video, they ran inside and began searching the internet for safety warnings. 'We were waiting to hear something, but nothing came through even though the smoke was getting bigger and coming toward us,' she said. 'At one point we could see the lava coming down the volcano.' Sicily, the setting for the second season of the hit series ' The White Lotus ', has grown increasingly popular among tourists in recent years, despite being plagued by heat, wildfires and water shortages. - The New York Times
Malay Mail
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Italy's Mount Etna unleashes dramatic eruption with lava fountain and 6.5km ash plume
ROME, June 3 — A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth on Monday from Italy's Mount Etna as authorities warned people to steer clear of Europe's largest active volcano. Sicily's Mount Etna has been active recently but Monday's eruption was the most dramatic, with experts warning that such activity could continue for weeks. Images showed a massive grey cloud billowing from the volcano on the island of Sicily, beginning at 11.24am local time (0924 GMT), according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Surveillance cameras showed 'a pyroclastic flow probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the Southeast Crater', the agency said. A pyroclastic flow — which is extremely dangerous — occurs when volcanic rock, ash and hot gasses surge from volcanos. The explosive activity 'had transitioned to a lava fountain', INGV said, describing jets of lava being sprayed into the air. By early afternoon, the plume had begun to dissipate. An initial red alert that INGV issued for aviation authorities — which estimated the height of the volcanic cloud at 6.5 kilometres — was downgraded to orange, then yellow. Sicily's nearby Catania Airport remained open Monday. By mid-afternoon, INGV said the eruption had stopped, with 'no ash cloud produced'. The president of the region of Sicily, Renato Schifani, said experts had assured him there was 'no danger for the population', with the flow not having passed the Valley of the Lion, an area frequented by tourists. Videos posted on social media appeared to show tourists hurrying down the side of the volcano, some taking photos, but AFP could not determine their authenticity. 'The partial collapse of the Southeast Crater, which generated an impressive eruptive cloud several kilometres high and a pyroclastic flow, is a phenomenon that we follow with extreme caution,' Schifani said. The head of the regional civil protection unit, Salvo Cocina, recommended that tourists avoid the area. Persistent activity The intensity of the volcano seen on Monday 'is one of the signs of the continuous dynamism of Etna', the president of the Italian Association of Volcanology, Marco Viccaro, told Corriere della Sera daily. 'The paroxysm that began last night and has continued to grow in intensity, falls within the dynamics of a volcano in persistent activity,' he said, noting that Etna had been active for 'several weeks'. That phase has been marked by 'short-duration episodes, with intense energy' but less than those seen between 2020 and 2022, he said. 'This is strombolian activity that is relatively mild in the early stages and then rapidly intensifies until it produces explosions that are fairly energetic in frequency,' he added. The volcano was in a 'recharge phase' in which magma, usually much deeper within the earth, was now closer to the surface. How much of that magma had risen would determine how long the activity would continue, said Viccaro. 'The evolution depends on the volumes of magma that have entered the upper part of the feeding system,' he said. The activity, he added, 'could evolve over weeks, if not months, with similar episodes to those we have witnessed.' — AFP
Japan Times
03-06-2025
- Climate
- Japan Times
Italy's Mount Etna erupts, spewing ash, gas and rock
A huge plume of ash, gas and rock spewed forth on Monday from Italy's Mount Etna as authorities warned people to steer clear of Europe's largest active volcano. Sicily's Mount Etna has been active recently but Monday's eruption was the most dramatic, with experts warning that such activity could continue for weeks. Images showed a massive gray cloud billowing from the volcano on the island of Sicily, beginning at 11:24 am local time (0924 GMT), according to the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV). Surveillance cameras showed "a pyroclastic flow probably produced by a collapse of material from the northern flank of the Southeast Crater", the agency said. A pyroclastic flow — which is extremely dangerous — occurs when volcanic rock, ash and hot gases surge from volcanos. The explosive activity "had transitioned to a lava fountain", INGV said, describing jets of lava being sprayed into the air. By early afternoon, the plume had begun to dissipate. An initial red alert that INGV issued for aviation authorities — which estimated the height of the volcanic cloud at 6.5 kilometers (more than four miles) — was downgraded to orange, then yellow. Sicily's nearby Catania Airport remained open Monday. By mid-afternoon, INGV said the eruption had stopped, with "no ash cloud produced". The president of the region of Sicily, Renato Schifani, said experts had assured him there was "no danger for the population", with the flow not having passed the Valley of the Lion, an area frequented by tourists. Videos posted on social media appeared to show tourists hurrying down the side of the volcano, some taking photos. "The partial collapse of the Southeast Crater, which generated an impressive eruptive cloud several kilometers high and a pyroclastic flow, is a phenomenon that we follow with extreme caution," Schifani said. The head of the regional civil protection unit, Salvo Cocina, recommended that tourists avoid the area. Persistent activity The intensity of the volcano seen on Monday "is one of the signs of the continuous dynamism of Etna", the president of the Italian Association of Volcanology, Marco Viccaro, told Corriere della Sera daily. "The paroxysm that began last night and has continued to grow in intensity, falls within the dynamics of a volcano in persistent activity," he said, noting that Etna had been active for "several weeks". That phase has been marked by "short-duration episodes, with intense energy" but less than those seen between 2020 and 2022, he said. "This is strombolian activity that is relatively mild in the early stages and then rapidly intensifies until it produces explosions that are fairly energetic in frequency," he added. The volcano was in a "recharge phase" in which magma, usually much deeper within the earth, was now closer to the surface. How much of that magma had risen would determine how long the activity would continue, said Viccaro. "The evolution depends on the volumes of magma that have entered the upper part of the feeding system," he said. The activity, he added, "could evolve over weeks, if not months, with similar episodes to those we have witnessed."
Times
02-06-2025
- Climate
- Times
Is it safe to travel to Sicily after Mount Etna eruption? Latest advice
Sicily's Mount Etna, the highest active volcano in Europe, erupted on the morning of Monday, June 2. Tourists could be seen running down its slopes as huge plumes of smoke rose into the sky. The eruption began at about 4am local time. Describing the release of magma, Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology said there had been 'strombolian explosions of growing intensity' in the hours after the initial eruption. The Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre Toulouse issued a brief 'code red' for aviation due to the eruption. This alert had been downgraded to 'orange' at the time of writing. The local airport, Catania, is operating as normal, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. Mount Etna last erupted in May this year, although it has erupted hundreds of times since the first recorded instance in 1500BC. If you've got a trip to Sicily coming up, here's what you need to know. Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna is on the east coast of Sicily, a Mediterranean island and region of Italy. Set slightly inland with the city of Catania to the south and popular tourist resort of Taormina to the north, it is the most active stratovolcano in the world, and has been a Unesco world heritage site since 2013. Yes, but do keep an eye on the latest advice. Flights are currently operating as normal, with some delays reported at Catania airport. Local airspace remains open and the UK Foreign Office has not updated its travel advice following the eruption. Mount Etna last erupted in May 2025. Eruptions are fairly common, with at least one a year. These generally have minimal impact on local residents and towns, but some have caused significant damage over the years. A major eruption in 1971 buried the Etna Observatory, destroyed orchards and vineyards, and threatened several villages. • Mount Etna eruption: huge plumes of smoke above volcano
